Joss Stone makes soul for the iPod generation

Soul for the iPod generation
Stone’s current CD, “Mind, Body & Soul” — with 11 of the 14 songs co-written by Stone — combines a classic soul sound with contemporary pop beats, sort of like soul for the iPod generation.

Soul, she says, was her main musical diet while growing up, the thing that moved her adolescent heart in her bedroom in Devon. She has tried to sing in different styles, but it never worked.

“It doesn’t matter what song I’m singing — I could be singing rock ’n’ roll or reggae — it’s just the way it comes out,” she says. “I get into it and I feel like it sounds bad to me when I don’t.”

Ask her about her own voice, though, and Stone demurs. “I really don’t feel it can do that much, to be honest. Some people like the sound of it. I don’t know,” she says uncomfortably.

“Really, I can’t do (expletive) with my voice. I can’t go really high. I can’t do runs after runs after runs like Beyonce. I do, like, one run. I just sing — I don’t do all that stuff.

“I think anybody who puts their emotion — their whole heart — into it, you will feel it. It’s like if the worst singer in the world comes and sings a song and they’re almost crying, you will cry. You will feel it. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a good singer or not. That’s what I do.”

More soul in store
Some of her more raw emotions may have recently been smoothed out. Stone, you see, is in love. Her beau is Beau Dozier, 25, son of Motown producer Lamont Dozier.

Sitting beside her on the sofa at the studio is the proof of their love: A limp, tiny puppy given as a gift by her boyfriend. Stone has named her Dusty Springfield Dozier.

“She so sweet,” says Stone. “God I love her.”

Other than dog rearing, what’s next for this young lady? Probably an album. She admits to being a little sick of continuing performing songs from the last one.

“I have so many ideas. Maybe I’ll go a little funky, maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll record it like this, maybe I won’t. I’m really not sure. It’ll be a nice surprise,” she says.

It’ll be soul, though.

“Everybody has a little bit of soul, they just show it in different ways. Some people paint a picture, some people write a book, some people bake a cake, some people show it in the way they raise their children. They put their heart and soul into something. I do it through my music.”

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